Child Rights Connect statement at the UN Human Rights Council

Today (September 29th), Child Rights Connect delivered a joint civil society oral statement during the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Delivered by Agnès Gràcia of Child Rights Connect, the statement called upon States to reaffirm their commitment to the UN human rights treaty body system.

The Helix Foundation is one of many organizations that proudly endorsed Child Rights Connect’s statement.

Child Rights Connect, a global children’s rights network, was founded in 1983 as the Ad Hoc NGO Group. The organization originally assisted in drafting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The independent, non-profit network, consisting of 134 organizations globally, ensures all children can fully enjoy their rights under the CRC.

An excerpt from the statement reads: “Chronic underfunding, States falling short of their reporting obligations, and growing operational constraints represent a political crisis and, ultimately, a human rights crisis.”

Child Rights Connect is calling on the States to “reaffirm their political and financial commitment for a strong, fully accessible and effective treaty body system,” and:

1. Guarantee sustainable funding through the UN regular budget. This would reduce review backlogs and ensure foreseeability of States reviews in advance.

2. Provide dedicated resources for hybrid modalities that enable meaningful participation by civil society and additional stakeholders.

3. Invest in accessible digitalization tools without additional delay.

Read Child Rights Connect’s previous statement at the opening of the 101st CRC session here. For a look into the organization’s CRC reporting, click here.

For more things to follow this month, check out this Helix blog post. Stay tuned for the latest news, updates and things we’re following in October!